Candidates and Healthcare — A Guide to the Maryland Primary

Jane Jewell • July 5, 2022


Abortion and covid are the main and most controversial topics in health care, dominating today’s news and people’s minds. 

 

Do candidates agree with the Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade? Or do they support reproductive freedom and the right of individual women to choose? And, where do candidates stand on the issues of masks, mandates, and vaccines.

 

Other important health-related issues include the increasing cost of prescription drugs and health insurance premiums. Arguments also swirl around whether to expand or curb Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare). The increasing number of hospital and clinic closings, especially in rural areas, is another problem.

 

Below are notes and quotes from the candidates’ websites and other public-record sources. Some candidates, mostly Democrats, have detailed plans for handling today’s health problems. Other candidates’ websites have general statements about healthcare being important, but no specifics on what the candidate supports or opposes.


For those interested in a candidate’s stand on a health issue that is not noted below, we suggest searching on the candidate’s name along with the topic and also checking sites like VOTE411.org or Ballotpedia.org/Maryland that track candidates’ positions. Many who have not yet made public statements on various controversial issues like the pandemic or Roe v. Wade may yet do so before the Maryland primary election. Be sure to vote!

 

The primary election is scheduled for Tuesday, July 19. Only residents who have registered their political party preference are eligible to vote, and they may only vote for their party’s candidates. Thus, Democrats may only vote for Democratic candidates and Republicans only for Republican candidates.

 

Important primary voting dates in Maryland:

  • July 7-14: Early in-person voting
  • July 12: Deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the primary election
  • July 19: Mail-in ballots must be postmarked no later than this date
  • July 19: Primary election

 

 

Governor/Lieutenant Governor

 

Dan Cox + Gordana Schifanelli — Republican

www.dancoxforgovernor.com

 

“On day one of my administration as your next governor, I will end the vaccine and health mandates.”

 

“Life, from conception to death, must be protected with utmost sincerity. I am unashamedly 100% pro-life.”

 

 

Robin Ficker + LeRoy F. Yegge, Jr. — Republican

www.cutmdsalestax2cents.com

Ficker’s website lists his record and position on many areas, but hardly anything on health. Some of his stance can be inferred from statements on education on his website including his call to re-open schools for in-person learning as early as July 2020 and that, “They will prioritize parental input into what the schools are teaching, whether schools are safe, and whether any mandates are ever needed.”

 

“I want to make Maryland the sports state. Kids in the school systems and most adults are too sedentary, devoting too much time to screen activity. We need to get them out and about and involved in wholesome activity and exercise.” (VOTE411.org)

 

 

Kelly Schulz + Jeff Woolford — Republican

http://www.kellyschulzforgovernor.com

“... it is WELL past time we move away from mask mandates and vaccine mandates. Individuals should be making their own choices.”

 

“I won’t let politicians arbitrarily shut down schools.”

 

“We are blessed to live in a state that has some of the best hospitals and health care providers not only in the country, but in the world. Innovative approaches have been taken to stabilize health care costs and premiums. We must continue to do this while also allowing for a system in which we can have more competition so that consumers have more choices.”

 

 

Joe Werner + Minh Thanh Luong — Republican

http://www.wernerformaryland.com

Werner’s website states that he has “tailor-fit plans” on several issues including healthcare; however, there are no details on the plans. His stance is indicated by the phrase “Pro Life Pro Liberty” on his list of important issues.

 


Rushern Baker III + Nancy Navarro — Democrat

http://www.rushernbaker.com

Rushern Baker III suspended his race for governor on June 10.

 

 

Jon Baron + Natalie Williams — Democrat

http://www.jonbaron.com

Baron says that he wants to bring an evidence-based approach to all issues including education, the economy, and healthcare. Specifically, he wants to lower the cost of prescription drugs by empowering Maryland to negotiate lower statewide costs for pharmaceutical drugs and to investigate which drugs benefit patients. 

 

Programs he supports:

  • Enshrine the protections of Roe v. Wade in the Maryland constitution
  • Public option health insurance with low premiums, similar to programs in New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington, similar to single-payer or Medicare-for-all concepts
  • Nurse-led program for chronically ill home-bound senior citizens
  • Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) for first-time mothers
  • A program that pairs Black barbershops with pharmacists to screen for and treat high blood pressure

 

 

Peter Franchot + Monique Anderson-Walker — Democrat

http://www.franchot.com

 “We have suffered greatly as a state and as a nation because our leaders have confused wishful thinking and good intentions with good management and strategic leadership. As a result, millions of Marylanders experienced confusion, frustration, and anger over poor execution of our covid-19 response. Far too often, the pandemic created needs that government did not rise to meet.”

 

Healthcare platform includes:

  • Protecting and expanding access to abortion care
  • Lowering healthcare costs and expanding affordable primary and preventative care

 

 

Douglas F. Gansler + Candace Hollingsworth — Democrat

www.ganslerformaryland.com

Regarding healthcare in general, Ganzler states: “In the midst of both a public health crisis and an economic crisis, our state is failing to provide the access, quality, and continuity of care that patients desperately need.”

 

Gansler has a focus on mental health and on adults with physical disabilities and chronic diseases, especially veterans. He proposes plans to improve access for the disabled in public transportation and employment. 

 

“We are nowhere close to satisfying demand for psychiatrists, therapists, and clinical social workers, which means people who call for help are often forced to wait weeks, even months, to get through the door. When we can get patients in for sessions, we don’t have nearly enough licensed prescribers to provide people with life-saving medicine. It’s clear Marylanders need mental health care now more than ever.”

 

He is also in favor of legalizing cannabis and expunging convictions.

 

 

Ralph W. Jaffe + Mark Greben — Democrat

http://www.fedupwithcrookedpolitics.com

Jaffe wants investigation and action on:

  • Veteran Adminstration scandals
  • Nursing home exploitation of the elderly

 

 

Ashwani Jain + LaTrece Hawkins Lytes — Democrat

www.jainforgovernor.com

Jain pledges to:

  • Add protection for abortion care, contraception, and gender treatment to Maryland constitution
  • Provide mental health personnel in schools
  • Strengthen disability rights and create caretaker programs
  • Legalize marijuana and expunge records
  • Decriminalize scheduled drugs and fund rehab clinics

 

 

John King + Michelle Daugherty Siri — Democrat

http://www.johnkingforGovernor.com

King is endorsed by the Pro-Choice Maryland Action organization.

 

On protecting and expanding the right to abortion care, King’s website states: “Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, it is no longer enough for Democrats to only be pro-choice. John and Michelle, his running mate and former board president of Planned Parenthood of Maryland, are committed to aggressively protecting and expanding the right to abortion care in Maryland.”

 

“Almost 350,000 [Marylanders] are uninsured. The disparities in Maryland’s healthcare system run deep. Black and Latino Marylanders are uninsured at a disproportionate rate.”

 

On his website, King outlines the following priorities:

  • Treat healthcare as a human right and remove barriers to healthcare for all Marylanders, regardless of immigration status
  • Remove barriers to primary care providers and specialty providers while working to ensure that all Marylanders face no barriers to emergency care, especially in rural Maryland
  • Incentivize providers to locate in underserved communities, prioritizing specialists
  • Create a permanent task force to analyze racial disparities in Maryland’s health care system, and make targeted investments to eliminate those disparities
  • Take a holistic approach to healthcare by tackling the underlying causes of many health disparities, such as poverty, environmental injustice, and access to fresh foods

 

 

Wes Moore + Aruna Miller — Democrat

wesmoore.com

“Wes will protect funding for our community health centers that offer critical health services like cancer screenings and birth control. Wes supports the right to choose, and as governor, he will fight to protect it."

 

The website states that the Moore-Miller administration will:

  • Ensure every Marylander has access to quality, affordable health care coverage and that the ability to pay is not the deciding factor in obtaining needed care
  • Protect reproductive freedoms and advance access to reproductive healthcare by enshrining the right to abortion into Maryland’s constitution, combating any efforts to restrict care and expanding training for healthcare providers so more Marylanders can obtain care
  • Lower prescription drug prices by empowering the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to review costs and set limits for prescription drugs, explore bulk buying pools, and leverage the state’s purchasing power to drive down costs
  • Advance health equity by ensuring universal access to coverage, combating maternal mortality by expanding successful home visiting programs, addressing disparities in rural health care by expanding telehealth and remote patient monitoring
  • Improve care for individuals with disabilities, and support seniors’ ability to access home health care services to age in place
  • Destigmatize mental illness and support mental, emotional, and behavioral health for all by increasing the number of community-based care centers
  • Better address the behavioral health needs of Maryland’s youth by expanding community schools, increasing the number of behavioral health workers in schools
  • Address workforce shortages in the health care field by driving more students into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs and leveraging tuition assistance and loan forgiveness to incentivize students and new graduates to work in high-demand areas
  • Address the public health impacts of climate change by addressing the worsening effects of extreme heat and improving Maryland’s air quality


 

Tom Perez + Shannon Sneed — Democrat

www.tomperez.com

“Tom will also ensure that every woman in Maryland has access to world class reproductive care.


  • The Perez-Sneed administration will also tackle the opioid and overdose crises across our state which are the leading cause of maternal mortality
  • Tom has a proven track record of fighting for women’s reproductive rights, including as assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice where he reinforced federal laws that protect women’s access to reproductive care without harassment or intimidation
  • Maryland is one of the most pro-choice states in the nation, but unfortunately most counties do not have a clinic that provides abortion services. Tom is committed to ensuring that every woman in Maryland has access to reproductive healthcare by integrating reproductive health services into our primary care system
  • Tom has a track record of fighting for Black women and children as director of the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services where he prosecuted a maternity ward that segregated its patients by race. As governor, Tom will provide targeted support for fertility, prenatal, and postpartum resources to Black women
  • Perez states he will also tackle the ongoing mental health crisis”

 

 

Jerome M. Segal + Justinian M. Dispenza — Democrat

segalforgovernor.org

Segal’s website has no specific mention of healthcare, covid, or abortion and reproductive rights.

 

 

Congress 1st District

 

Andrew P. Harris — Republican — incumbent

http://www.andyharris.com

Concerning abortion, Harris has been quoted in a Baltimore Sun article: “I’m on record,” Harris said. “I would support a heartbeat bill. I think we should protect infant lives after the heartbeat is detected.” That would be at about 6 weeks, before many even know they are pregnant.

 

As of July 1, the Harris website has lots of links to news articles and tips for dealing with covid but no details on his position on issues such as masks, vaccines, or mandates. Radio and TV ads from 2018 and 2020 are included but no new information for 2022.

 

The site also has a banner proclaiming “The Trump Team.” 

 

 

R. David Harden — Democrat

http://www.hardenforcongress.com

“Healthcare: Every American deserves access to high-quality, affordable medical care. We can improve our healthcare system while lowering costs, ensuring broader coverage, and achieving better outcomes. I support measures that would strengthen the ACA’s framework and provide a public option that will be made affordable to every citizen. Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP protect our seniors, children, and most vulnerable citizens; I will fight to make sure these programs are never eliminated or privatized. Beyond expanding coverage, we must also seek to address the exploding costs of healthcare. We need a comprehensive policy agenda that targets anti-competitive behavior, price-gouging, and bureaucratic waste in the private sector, while also investing in evidence-based public health initiatives.”

 

Hardin states that he is “fully committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare and ensuring their solvency and viability.”

 

On covid, Hardin supports vaccines and taking all needed precautions for those in high-risk groups.

 

 

Heather R. Mizeur — Democrat

www.heathermizeur.com

Concerning healthcare, Mizeur supports expanding access, lowering costs, and improving coverage. She has considerable experience in writing and sponsoring healthcare policy in the Maryland General Assembly, including one of the first bills that allowed young people to stay on their parents’ family policies until age 26.

 

“I will seek to expand who qualifies for coverage, improve the benefits packages, and will work to bring down out-of-pocket costs through better subsidies and co-payment rules. I also support allowing Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies to reduce Rx prices. And I will prioritize our rural health care needs by focusing on ways to attract more and better health care providers to our region and promote policies that will keep rural hospitals and clinics open and thriving, ensuring First District residents don’t lose their access to care.”

 

Mizeur has an impressive list of endorsements including from Maryland’s U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and from Wayne Gilchrest, former Republican, who was the First District representative in Congress for many years. 

 

 

Jane Jewell is a writer, editor, photographer, and teacher. She has worked in news, publishing, and as the director of a national writer's group. She lives in Chestertown with her husband Peter Heck, a ginger cat named Riley, and a lot of books.

 

Common Sense for the Eastern Shore

By CSES Staff September 17, 2025
Easton pastor Daniel Omar Fuentes Espinal, who was detained by federal immigration officials earlier this summer and later released, now has a court date set before a federal immigration judge, according to newly filed records. Fuentes Espinal, 54, has led Iglesia del Nazareno Jesus Te Ama since 2015 and is widely regarded by neighbors and local officials as a respected community leader. In July, he was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which alleged he overstayed his visa by 25 years after arriving from Honduras. The arrest drew swift reaction from across Maryland. Lawmakers and community members questioned why Fuentes Espinal was detained, noting he had no criminal record. Rep. Glenn Ivey and Sen. Sarah Elfreth reported at the time that his family had not seen him since the arrest, had only limited contact, and feared he would be deported. After weeks of uncertainty, Fuentes Espinal was released on August 15 and reunited with his family. “My family and I are very thankful for all of you,” he said. “I’m very happy to be home with my family and my community. I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, and God bless everyone.” Friends of the family say he is now working toward legal citizenship, but his case remains unresolved. Federal court records show his first hearing is scheduled for March 31, 2026, in Baltimore. The proceeding, known as a master calendar hearing, marks the initial stage in removal cases. Immigration judges use the session to explain rights and responsibilities to those appearing before the court. According to ICE, if Fuentes Espinal fails to appear, he could be ordered to leave the country. For now, the pastor continues his ministry in Easton, awaiting what is likely to be a lengthy legal process.
By Jan Plotczyk September 17, 2025
On Sept. 11, a group of ultraright House Republicans delivered a letter to House leadership demanding the formation of a select committee on “the money, influence, and power behind the radical left’s assault on America and the rule of law.” Twenty-three reactionary members of Congress signed the letter, including some of the most extreme right-wingers in the House of Representatives. Among the signers is our own First District congressman, Andrew P. Harris, who’s added his voice to the cacophony demanding that something be done about the so-called left-wing threat to America. The letter was composed quickly after last week’s sniper murder of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing podcaster and campus provocateur. It presents a rationalization for investigating the finances of left-wing organizations and persons by blaming them not only for Kirk’s violent death, but for all manner of other problems ills in the country today: Many attacks on “our way of life” Sustained breakdown of law and order Open borders that allow “illegal aliens” to victimize law-abiding Americans Murders of innocent Americans, prominent and unknown alike Assassination attempts of GOP politicians The solution proposed in the letter is to “follow the money” by investigating such persons and groups as George Soros, the Wren Collective, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the U.N., and radicals and organizations suspected of financing the concerted effort to destroy MAGA America. They want to trace the money that, they claim without evidence, funds “the NGOs, donors, media, public officials, and all entities driving this coordinated attack.” But moderate observers and commentators see a broader aim — the end of free speech when the speaker disagrees with the views of the current ruling party. As expressed by Democracy Docket , a digital news platform, “The Trump administration’s rhetoric around Kirk’s murder and its attempt to link it to progressive causes and groups has raised fears it seeks to use the killing as false justification to further crack down on political speech and opposition politics in the U.S.” Harris and the other letter signers have joined a loud and strident chorus of alt-right voices demanding “justice” by dismantling the liberal and left organizations that they claim are fomenting violence. Also on Sept. 11, President Trump told reporters , "We have radical left lunatics out there and we just have to beat the hell out of them." On Sept. 15, Vice President Vance called for the mass doxing of anyone celebrating Kirk’s murder. “Call them out. Hell, call their employer.” A growing number of companies are terminating and suspending employees for posting messages critical of Charlie Kirk on social media. Stephen Miller , Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, referred to the Democratic Party as “a vast domestic terror movement” responsible for Kirk’s murder. He said the administration would target those who are “paying for violence.” “With God as my witness, we are going to use every resource we have at the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, and throughout this government to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and destroy these networks and make America safe again for the American people,” Miller vowed in the Oval Office. “I don’t care how — it could be a RICO charge, a conspiracy charge, conspiracy against the United States, insurrection — but we are going to do what it takes to dismantle the organizations and the entities,” he added. The average American realizes that this sort of language is dangerous. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted after Kirk’s murder found that most Americans are worried about political violence and partisan divisions: 63% said the way Americans talk about political issues does "a lot" to encourage violence. 79% said people are less tolerant of opposing viewpoints than they were 20 years ago. 66% said they were concerned over the prospect of violence committed against people in their community because of their political beliefs. 71% said that “American society is broken.” Read the right-wingers’ letter and judge it for yourself:
By CSES Staff September 17, 2025
Following a jury trial in Somerset County Circuit Court, Princess Anne Town Commissioner Lionel Frederick was convicted on Sept. 10 of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. A former Town Commission president, Frederick was indicted last April in connection with an October 2024 incident in which investigators alleged he had a shotgun in his home. Because of a 2019 conviction for second-degree assault, considered a crime of violence, Frederick was banned from owning or possessing firearms under Maryland law. During Wednesday’s trial, Frederick — as the sole defense witness — testified he did not realize his earlier conviction barred him from keeping the shotgun. He said the weapon had been purchased legally more than 10 years ago and that he had never been told to surrender it. Prosecutors countered that the restriction was clear. The county State’s Attorney’s office produced a probation order from 2019 that prohibited Frederick from having a gun without court authorization. Frederick questioned the authenticity of his signature on the document, going so far as to suggest, “It’s Somerset County. I wouldn’t put it past this court.” After the three-hour trial, jurors deliberated for 30 minutes before finding Frederick guilty on both counts, one a felony for illegal firearm possession and the other a misdemeanor for possessing ammunition unlawfully. Frederick’s sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2 before Judge Leah Seaton.
By CSES Staff September 17, 2025
Salisbury Mayor Randy Taylor’s administration has suffered another setback in court after the city failed in its attempt to block developer Mentis from privatizing the downtown parking lot known as Lot 10. In February 2023, the city sold Lot 10 to Mentis with the understanding that the property would remain a municipal lot until the developer was ready to begin construction of its hotel and conference center. This summer, Mentis announced its intent to convert Lot 10 to a private lot and to collect its own parking revenue. Taylor’s administration responded on Aug. 19 by filing for a temporary restraining order and injunction, claiming Mentis had breached its agreement by attempting to take control of the lot without obtaining the necessary permits. The city argued that public access should remain until redevelopment officially began. On Sept. 12, Wicomico Co. Circuit Court Judge Leah Seaton rejected the city’s request, ruling that Salisbury had failed to prove “irreparable harm,” a necessary condition for an injunction. The ruling means that Mentis is now free to collect parking fees from Lot 10, while taxpayers are left footing the bill for a failed legal maneuver. Critics say Taylor misplayed the case Residents and downtown stakeholders have accused the Taylor administration of mishandling the dispute and wasting public money. Rather than negotiating directly with Mentis or resolving the funding agreement for the redevelopment project, the mayor opted for an aggressive legal strategy, which ended in defeat. “This administration keeps charging ahead with lawsuits it cannot win,” one downtown business owner said. “Meanwhile, the city burns through taxpayer dollars, and we’re no closer to seeing real progress on the hotel and conference center.” Developer signals willingness to proceed Mentis officials, for their part, said the project can move forward if the city finalizes the sub-recipient agreement needed to release grant funding. “If we can get the city to move forward with the sub-recipient agreement, and that opens up the grant funding flowing to the project, we will continue to move forward with the hotel and conference center,” said Mentis’ Nick Simpson. Taylor points fingers Pushing back, the mayor argued that the developer needs to secure financing, site plans, and construction approvals before the project can advance — materials that have already been provided to the city. But to many observers, the back-and-forth underscores a larger problem: a stalled project that continues to pit City Hall against its private partners, with little to show for years of promises. A hearing on the remaining disputes is scheduled for December, but critics say the damage has been done. The court ruling leaves Mentis in control of Lot 10’s parking revenue and the city with another legal bill, raising questions about whether Salisbury’s mayor is fighting the right battles and how many more tax increases city residents will endure to pay for these legal battles.
By CSES Staff September 17, 2025
Tenants of a dangerous, code-violating, bat-, rat-, roach-, and mold-infested apartment complex in Prince George’s County will collect an $11.2 million settlement against the owners and operators of the complex. Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced the landmark settlement with Heather Hill Apartments after allegations that the property collected rent without a valid license, dodged code inspections, and tried to evict hundreds of tenants. The settlement is the largest restitution ever obtained by the AG’s Consumer Protection Division in a landlord-tenant case. It will provide debt forgiveness, credits, and cash payments to tenants who paid rent while Heather Hill was unlicensed and requires the company to dismiss pending eviction cases tied to that period. “This settlement provides relief for hundreds of Maryland families who were forced to pay rent while some lived in unsafe conditions,” Brown said. “My office will always hold landlords accountable when they put profits over people’s safety.” The company faces three more lawsuits. Broader implications across Maryland While the Heather Hill case is centered in Prince George’s County, housing advocates note that the issues it raises — unlicensed properties, unsafe living conditions, and tenants struggling without recourse — are not confined to one region. On the Eastern Shore, where affordable housing is limited and oversight often inconsistent, tenant advocates have warned of similar problems. Aging multi-family housing in Salisbury, Cambridge, and Crisfield has drawn complaints about weak code enforcement and unsafe conditions. The Heather Hill settlement underscores that the state will step in when landlords fail to comply with licensing laws. For Shore renters, the precedent could mean stronger accountability in local housing markets, which have long marked shortages and rising costs. Connection to statewide reforms The action also comes just days after Gov. Wes Moore signed his Housing Starts Here executive order to accelerate the construction of affordable homes statewide. Together, the order and the Heather Hill settlement reflect a two-pronged strategy: building more housing while holding existing landlords accountable. For Shore communities, where new housing and stronger enforcement are badly needed, the Heather Hill case signals that state officials are paying closer attention to the conditions renters face, not only in the urban core, but across the state.
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By Gren Whitman September 17, 2025
The Maryland Board of Public Works has approved $13 million in grants from the Department of Natural Resources for local governments and land trusts to support community centers, parks, and land conservation projects in 16 counties, including several on the Eastern Shore. In addition to local recreation projects, the board approved $3.2 million in Rural Legacy funding for conservation easements that permanently limit development to protect farms, waterways, and natural habitats. Among the Eastern Shore investments: Talbot County will receive funding for a new softball field at the Home Run Baker Sports Complex. Caroline County is approved to install new playground equipment at Jesse Sutton Memorial Park in Greensboro. Worcester County will receive funds to build new restrooms at Sturgis Park in Snow Hill. The Eastern Shore Land Conservancy will get an award to protect two adjoining properties in Caroline County, covering 220 acres, and safeguarding 7,400 feet of forested stream buffers along tributaries of the Choptank River and preserving scenic views near Preston. In Dorchester County’s Harriet Tubman Rural Legacy Area, the Conservation Fund will secure an easement on a 121-acre farm, preserving historic landscapes along public roads tied to Tubman’s story and protecting valuable agricultural land. “These projects are about building stronger, healthier communities,” Gov. Wes Moore said during the meeting, underscoring the administration’s focus on expanding recreational opportunities and conserving Maryland’s natural resources. The DNR noted that similar projects were approved in counties across Maryland, ranging from new playgrounds and sports facilities to strategic farmland preservation. Officials emphasized that the funding supports immediate community needs and long-term environmental protections. “These grants reflect our dual mission, creating vibrant spaces for Marylanders today while ensuring our land and water resources are protected for generations to come,” DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz said. As a community organizer, journalist, administrator, project planner/manager, and consultant, Gren Whitman has led neighborhood, umbrella, public interest, and political committees and groups, and worked for civil rights and anti-war organizations.
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